Brian,
Thanks for the feedback, being honest isnt always popular but its honest! When I started working for Big Green they told me I didnt prune hard enough, since I want to climb a bit more and chip a bit less I try to do it the way they want and sell it to the customer.
Unfortunately for me I do take instructions from a home owner. This is Burger King and I am a monkey with a saw that cuts the limbs that are pointed at. Additionally the guys that are 'training' me have worked there for 30+ years, my foreman was a foreman in 1982, I was born in 1985. "Shigo says...", "I read on the internet..." nor "I like it better this way..." really matter to them.
I do what the work order says and when it says 'prune, thin, and deadwood', what you saw there is exactly what they want.
As much I wish I could be in the 'do the right thing tree care business' I am actually in the 'collect a check and pay the bills' business.